The Red Cross can help you prepare your family, your pets and your home for common emergencies and natural disasters. Read below for information about. A hypothetical disaster drill is used to perfect your organization’s response to a particular emergency situation, such as extreme weather, bomb threat or lockdown. An effective disaster drill should be realistic, interactive and moderately stressful for the participants. Depending on the scale of your drill, you may.
Emergency Preparedness and Response: Getting Started Evacuation & Shelter-in-PlaceEmergency evacuations are more common than many people realize, including evacuations in the workplace. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the most frequent causes of evacuations in the U.S. Each year are fires and floods. In addition, a wide variety of emergencies, both man-made and natural, may require a workplace to be evacuated.
These emergencies may include explosions, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, hazardous/toxic material releases, radiological and biological accidents, civil disturbances and workplace violence. Emergency Evacuation is the immediate and urgent movement of people away from a threat or actual occurrence of a hazard.This web page provides workers and employers guidance on planning for safe evacuations and shelter-in-place procedures during emergencies that may affect their workplace.Deciding whether to shelter-in-place or evacuate to safety (i.e., get away from a threat or hazard) is among the most important decisions that must be made during an emergency. Employers should understand and plan for both scenarios.
In any emergency, the local authorities may or may not be able to provide information immediately to assess the situation. Employers should consider how the situation might impact workers sheltering-in-place at a job site versus workers attempting to evacuate to safety.If local authorities or the on-scene coordinator (e.g., incident commander or other official in charge) specifically give instructions to evacuate or seek medical treatment, do so immediately. In very hazardous situations, local officials may require mandatory evacuations. During other times, local officials may advise, or workers and employers may decide, to evacuate to avoid situations they believe are potentially dangerous.Watch TV, listen to the radio, or check the Internet often for information or official instructions as it becomes available.
Additionally, specific instructions and guidance from local officials may also be provided through mass media, sirens or other public address/alert systems, text alerts, emails, or telephone calls.Develop a Plan Ahead of TimeMany disasters are no-notice events, meaning that there is no warning before they occur. These types of events do not allow time for people to gather even the most basic necessities. Therefore, pre-planning is critical. Workers may need to be trained to respond differently to different threats. For example, workers may be required to assemble in one area inside the workplace if threatened by a tornado or on an adjacent highway if threatened by a chemical spill.
Moreover, a fire may require workers to evacuate to a pre-determined exterior location.Emergency evacuation plans are developed to ensure the safest and most efficient evacuation. The evacuation plan must identify when and how workers are to respond to different types of emergencies. When developing the plan, it is important to ask questions and plan for worst-case scenarios. An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a written document required by some OSHA standards (including and ) to help facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. See OSHA's for more assistance in developing an EAP. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Procedures that address special needs workers, such as those that may have physical limitations. Any special actions for evacuation during an active shooter or other dangerous intruder situationWhen to EvacuateThe emergency evacuation plan should identify the different types of situations that will require an evacuation of the workplace. As mentioned before, these may include explosions; earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters; releases of chemical, radioactive, or biological agents; and civil disturbances and workplace violence. The extent of evacuation may be different for different types of hazards.The type of building employees work in may be a factor in the decision to evacuate during an emergency.
Most buildings are vulnerable to the effects of disasters, such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, or explosions. The extent of the damage depends on the type of emergency and the building's construction. Modern factories and office buildings, for example, are framed in steel and may be more structurally sound than older structures. In a major disaster, however, nearly every type of structure will be affected. Some buildings will collapse and others will be left with weakened floors, walls, and roofs.
Evacuations during an Active Shooter or other Dangerous Intruder SituationActive shooter and other dangerous intruder situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.
Evacuation may be one option during an active shooter situation. This web page also describes sheltering in place during an active shooter situation in the 'Shelter-in-Place' section below.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides the following:If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. Be sure to:. Have an escape route and plan in mind. Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow. Leave your belongings behind. Help others escape, if possible.
Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be. Keep your hands visible. Follow the instructions of any police officers. Do not attempt to move wounded people. Call 911 when you are safeFor more information, visit DHS's for Active Shooter Preparedness. Clear Chain of CommandIt is common practice to select a responsible individual, with appropriate training or certifications, to lead and coordinate the workplace emergency plan and evacuation.
It is critical that the employer ensures that the workers know the identity of the coordinator, as well as understand that the coordinator has the responsibility for making life saving decisions during an emergency. The coordinator should be responsible for assessing the situation to determine whether an emergency exists, activating the emergency procedures, overseeing emergency procedures, notifying and coordinating with outside emergency services, and directing the shutdown of utilities or plant operations, if necessary. Routes and ExitsMost employers create with arrows that designate all exit route(s). Example Evacuation Floor DiagramWhen preparing drawings that show evacuation routes and exits, employers should post them prominently for all workers to see. See and for more information.The section of OSHA's provides additional information about exit route safety.
What should Employers Do Before and During an Emergency Evacuation?When there is an emergency, getting workers out of buildings (including high-rise buildings) may pose challenges. Preparing in advance to safely evacuate the building is critical to the safety of workers who work there.
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No business is totally immune from disaster. Every year, businesses temporarily shut down—or close forever—because of a disaster such as a flood, fire or hurricane. Forty percent of businesses do not reopen after a disaster and another 25 percent fail within one year, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).Fortunately, you can take proactive steps to mitigate the impact of a disaster on your business. In addition, carrying adequate insurance coverage can help your business get back on its feet quickly. Disaster preparationHouseholds—especially in areas prone to hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes—often prepare for disasters by storing extra supplies, having an evacuation plan, and learning about emergency resources. Businesses similarly want to prepare, with a focus on restoring your operations as soon as possible and minimizing your losses.
To prepare adequately for a disaster, take the following steps:. Develop a formal written plan—Sometimes called a “Disaster Recovery Plan” or “Business Continuity Plan,” this document should detail how your business will respond to and recover from a disaster, including temporarily relocating your business. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed a for developing a plan. Some businesses also develop specific plans to protect and recover their information technology (IT) infrastructure. In today’s era of cloud computing, it is increasingly easier to back up data offsite. Train employees—Share your Disaster Recovery Plan with employees, assign responsibilities, and offer training so that your workforce can help your business recover.
You may also want to conduct drills to assess and improve response. Store emergency supplies—Keep flashlights, a first-aid kit and a battery-powered radio on hand at your business. Depending on its location, you may even want to store food, water and blankets. As feasible and needed, consider stocking equipment that can help your business return to operations, such as a generator. Maintain key information offsite—To get your business up and operating again after a disaster, you’ll need to be able to access critical business information. In addition to backing up computer data, keep an offsite list of your insurance policies, banking information and the phone numbers of employees, key customers, vendors and suppliers, your insurance professional and others.
You’ll also want to maintain an inventory of your business equipment, supplies and merchandise; you may want to photograph items as well.Disaster response and recoveryAfter a disaster, you’ll want to put your Disaster Recovery Plan into action. Read the Insurance Information Institute’s “Best Practices for Filing a Business Insurance Claim,” which details several steps to control damage and recover costs. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, take the following actions as appropriate:. Secure your building, boarding up entry points if necessary. Make temporary repairs, especially to minimize further damage, such as placing a tarp over a hole in your roof. Relocate salvageable equipment and property to a safe, protected location. Inspect your property and keep a detailed list of damages; take photos to document damage.
Clean up your property, taking care to wear safety gear such as gloves and protective eyewear. If feasible, save damaged property in case it needs to be inspected by your insurance adjuster.
Contact your insurance professional and your insurer to begin the claims process. Keep receipts of all expenses related to the disaster.Once you’ve secured your property and taken other immediate steps, you can begin to focus on making your business operational once again. You should lay the groundwork for restarting operations in your Disaster Recovery Plan. Issues to consider include:. Location—Should you open a new temporary location or can you operate from your home or use the facilities of a partner or even friendly competitor?.
Communications—How will you communicate with your employees, customers, vendors and suppliers?. Insurance claims—In addition to filing a property claim, you’ll want to file a business interruption insurance claim, if you carry this type of coverage. This insurance will help you cover costs of relocating as well as lost income.